TV Meets the Modern Space Opera Quiz

Answer: spaceships, good versus evil, romance, ray guns, aliens

Wilson Tucker called space opera "the hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn space-ship yarn". It was primarily meant as a derogatory term, however the term had a less demeaning tone to it in the following years. Space opera is often classified as hard science fiction, but modern TV programs include other aspects so as to appeal to many viewers.

Answer: Star Trek: Valkyrie

"The Next Generation" aired from 1987-1994 and is most prominently recognized as the series that starred Patrick Stewart as the bald Captain Picard. "Deep Space Nine" ran from 1993-1999. Its events took place on a space station as opposed to a spaceship. "Voyager" ran from 1995-2001 and had the first female captain, Kathryn Janeway.

Another series, "Enterprise", ran from 2000-2005 and starred "Quantum Leap" actor, Scott Bakula.

Answer: Farscape

The cancellation caused a strong negative response from fans of the show. "Farscape" eventually remedied this problem by releasing a two-part miniseries titled "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars". Two of the show's stars, Ben Browder and Claudia Black, eventually were cast on the show "Stargate SG-1".

Answer: all of these

Season three of "Battlestar Galactica" began with these parallels to the Iraq War and the show took a hit from some fans. The Colonials, or the "good guys", were in the position of the insurgents and the Cylons, or "bad guys", were the occupiers.

Answer: The episodes were aired out of order.

"Firefly" was widely acclaimed by critics and fans, but the show failed on television due to the episodes being aired out of order in a confusing manner. The network didn't even air the whole season. DVD sales were a redeeming factor, and along with a strong fan campaign, they led to a film.

Answer: Buck Rogers

The Buck Rogers character first appeared in two novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan in the magazine "Amazing Stories". The franchise later expanded to a comic strip, and much later into a TV series and film.

Answer: Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks

Richard Dean Anderson replaced Kurt Russell as Colonel Jack O'Neill (the second 'L' added) and Michael Shanks played Dr. Daniel Jackson. With 214 episodes, "Stargate SG-1" became the longest-running science fiction show in North America. It can be considered a space opera even though many of the events take place on earth. Most of the elements seen in space operas are present.

Answer: Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

Majel Barrett starred in the original "Star Trek" as head nurse Christine Chapel. She later married Gene Roddenberry. "Andromeda", or its more formal title "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda", takes character Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo) and places him hundreds of years further into the future.

Answer: Doctor Who

"Doctor Who" is considered the longest-running science fiction television program of all time with over 700 episodes and counting. The continuous nature of the program is thanks in part to the character of the "Doctor" who has had at least ten incarnations, with that many different actors playing his part. The show has become highly entwined within British popular culture.

Answer: a space station

The Babylon 5 space station is an enormous hub of that supports commerce and trade amongst different alien races. The show "Babylon 5" lasted for five seasons and won several awards, including Emmys and Hugos.